U.S. patent application number 13/816448 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-04 for light source evaluation device and solar cell evaluation device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Yoshihiro Nishikawa, Tsutomu Okura. Invention is credited to Yoshihiro Nishikawa, Tsutomu Okura.
Application Number | 20130169306 13/816448 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45567518 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130169306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nishikawa; Yoshihiro ; et
al. |
July 4, 2013 |
Light Source Evaluation Device and Solar Cell Evaluation Device
Abstract
With a light source evaluation device 10 according to the
present invention and a solar cell evaluation device 1 employing
the same, a dependency P (.lamda., Ib) for each wavelength .lamda.
of a short-circuit current Ib generated by white bias light of a
measurement target solar cell 2, which is pre-measured at each of a
plurality (i) of irradiance levels, is regarded as a spectral
responsivity Pi (.lamda.) at each irradiance level, and a value for
adjusting a light quantity of an illumination light source 3 that
illuminates the solar cell 2 is computed using a spectral
responsivity Ps (.lamda.), which is computed using the spectral
responsivity Pi (.lamda.), a pre-supplied spectral irradiance S
(.lamda.) of reference sunlight, and a pre-measured spectral
irradiance L (.lamda.) of the illumination light source 3.
Therefore the light source evaluation device 10 having this
configuration and the solar cell evaluation device 1 employing the
same can accurately adjust the light quantity of the illumination
light source 3 when evaluating the solar cell 2 of which spectral
responsivity changes depending on the light quantity.
Inventors: |
Nishikawa; Yoshihiro;
(Osaka, JP) ; Okura; Tsutomu; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nishikawa; Yoshihiro
Okura; Tsutomu |
Osaka
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
45567518 |
Appl. No.: |
13/816448 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
July 15, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2011/004061 |
371 Date: |
February 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
324/761.01 ;
250/205; 250/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01J 1/32 20130101; G01J
1/44 20130101; Y02E 10/50 20130101; H02S 50/10 20141201 |
Class at
Publication: |
324/761.01 ;
250/206; 250/205 |
International
Class: |
G01R 31/26 20060101
G01R031/26; G01J 1/44 20060101 G01J001/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 11, 2010 |
JP |
2010-180396 |
Claims
1. A light source evaluation device, comprising: a spectro-radio
meter that measures a spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) of a light
source for illuminating a measurement target solar cell; a first
storage unit that stores a pre-measured spectral irradiance S
(.lamda.) of reference sunlight; a second storage unit that stores,
as a spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.) at each of a plurality (i)
of irradiation levels, a dependency P (.lamda., Ib) for each
wavelength .lamda., of a short-circuit current Ib generated by
white bias light of the solar cell, which is pre-measured at each
irradiance level; and a computing unit that computes a value for
adjusting a light quantity of the light source for illuminating the
solar cell, using a spectral responsivity Ps (.lamda.) of the solar
cell corresponding to the irradiance level of each wavelength of
the light source determined by computation using the spectral
responsivity Pi (.lamda.) at each of the plurality (i) of
irradiation levels of the solar cell, the spectral irradiance S
(.lamda.) of the reference sunlight, and the spectral irradiance L
(.lamda.) of the light source.
2. The light source evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein
the computing unit selects a spectral responsivity Ps (.lamda.)
that corresponds to a difference between the spectral irradiance S
(.lamda.) of the reference sunlight and the spectral irradiance L
(.lamda.) of the light source, out of the spectral responsivity Pi
(.lamda.) at each of the plurality (i) of irradiance levels of the
solar cell, and computes an effective value of an irradiance level
at which the illumination light from the light source actually
works on photoelectric conversion for the solar cell having the
spectral responsivity Ps (.lamda.).
3. The light source evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein
the computing unit performs feedback control for the light quantity
of the light source, in response to the computing result.
4. The light source evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein
the computing unit adjusts the light quantity of the light source
using an absolute spectral sensitivity method on the basis of the
spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.) of the solar cell, which is
pre-measured at a plurality (i) of irradiance levels, and the
spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) of the light source, so that the
spectrum of the reference sunlight has a spectral irradiance that
generates short-circuit current Ib that is the same as in the case
where an irradiation light energy is 1000 W/m.sup.2.
5. The light source evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein
the computing unit displays the computing result.
6. The light source evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein
the computing unit outputs the computing result to the outside.
7. The solar cell evaluation device, comprising: the light source
evaluation device according to claim 1; a solar simulator used as
the light source that generates light simulating the reference
sunlight and irradiates the light onto the measurement target solar
cell; and a current/voltage meter that measures an electricity
generation characteristic of the solar cell by the irradiation
light from the solar simulator.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a light source evaluation
device for evaluating a light source and a solar cell evaluation
device for evaluating a solar cell employing the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Solar cells are now widely used, and the competition among
manufacturers on the performance of solar cells is heating up. Many
types of solar cell composition have also been developed, including
single crystal silicon, amorphous silicon, thin film silicon and
organic compounds. In order to fairly evaluate the photoelectric
conversion efficiency of these solar cells, methods for evaluating
solar cells are defined by IEC 60904 and JIS (C8905 to C8911). IEC
is an acronym for International Electro technical Commission, and
JIS is an acronym for Japanese Industrial Standards.
[0003] Since a solar cell has a unique spectral response
characteristics due to material and structure, the photoelectric
conversion characteristic of a solar cell greatly depends on the
spectral irradiance of the irradiation light used for performance
evaluation. Therefore as mentioned above, the evaluation method is
defined by standards. Generally the performance of a solar cell is
measured indoors using a solar simulator that has spectral
irradiance L (.lamda.) approximated to the spectral irradiance of
the reference sunlight (=S (.lamda.)) under standard test
conditions agreed on internationally.
[0004] However the solar simulator is constructed by combining a
xenon lamp and an optical filter, for example, and it is extremely
difficult to approximate the illumination light thereof to
reference sunlight. FIG. 6 is a graph depicting an example of the
spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) of the reference sunlight,
according to the above-mentioned IEC 60904. FIG. 7 is a graph
depicting an example of the spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) of a
solar simulator. The graph in FIG. 8 shows a result of integrating
the spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) in FIG. 6 and the spectral
irradiance L (.lamda.) in FIG. 7, which have different wavelength
regions and illumination levels. In FIG. 8, the graph indicated by
a reference symbol .alpha.1 is the spectral irradiance S (.lamda.)
of the reference sunlight, and the graph indicated by a reference
symbol .alpha.2 is the spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) of the solar
simulator.
[0005] Therefore in order to reproduce the reference sunlight,
Patent Document 1 discloses a solar simulator which generates light
having a similar spectrum of the sunlight, from ultraviolet to
infrared, by selectively transmitting/reflecting light, using a
mirror having wavelength dependency, out of lights from a plurality
of light sources (xenon lamp and halogen lamp) which emit lights in
a mutually different wavelength range, and combining the
transmitted/reflected lights.
[0006] Patent Document 2 discloses a technique to correct changes
of the light quantity of a solar simulator, which measures the
irradiance of the light source, and matches the response
characteristic of the irradiance measurement sensor with the
response characteristic of the solar cell itself, so as to cancel
the changes of the light quantity of the solar simulator.
Non-Patent Document 1 below will be referred to in the later
mentioned embodiments.
[0007] The above-mentioned techniques are all calibration methods
for a single solar simulator. However solar simulators differ
depending on the manufacturer, and have machine differences even if
the manufacturer is the same, therefore if a solar cell is measured
using a different solar simulator, the electric power generation
changes even if the solar simulator satisfies the above-mentioned
characteristics.
[0008] Therefore the measurer sends a solar cell sample and
requests the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology (a national institute that provides an internationally
unified reference sunlight spectrum, or an equivalent institute),
for example, to perform measurement. In response to this request,
the institute determines the short-circuit current Isc of the
sample at natural sunlight AM 1.5 and 100 mW/cm.sup.2 using its own
solar simulator that can infinitely approximate light to the
reference sunlight, and returns the sample with the measured value
(=A) to the measurer. Then the measurer uses the returned sample as
the reference cell at their company, and adjusts the light quantity
of the solar simulator. In other words, the measurer adjusts the
light quantity of the solar simulator first using the reference
cell so that the short-circuit current Isc becomes A, then measures
the characteristic of the actual measurement target solar cell
(inspection target product). As mentioned above, it is difficult to
accurately reproduce the optical spectrum of the reference
sunlight, but with this technique, the solar simulators of each
company can match the reference sunlight as accurately as
possible.
[0009] In order to complete calibration using the reference cell
according to this technique however, it is necessary for the
measurer to create a sample and send it to a public institute,
where the institute measures the sample and sends it back. This
takes time and is costly. Furthermore, calibration of the solar
simulator is not completed all at once, but must be repeated with
creating a new reference cell every time the spectral responsivity
of the solar cell to be measured changes, hence this takes enormous
time and cost.
[0010] The inventor of the present invention therefore proposed a
method for evaluating a solar cell which does not require the
reference cell, by measuring the spectral responsivity P (.lamda.)
of the measurement target solar cell in advance, and converting the
short-circuit current, due to the reference sunlight with the
spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) by
ES=EL{.intg.S(.lamda.)P(.lamda.)d.lamda.}/{.intg.L(.lamda.)P(.lamda.)d.l-
amda.}
where EL is the short-circuit current due to the irradiation light
by the solar simulator with the spectral irradiance L(.lamda.)
(PCT/JP 2009/066105 (W0/2010/058649A1); published on May 27,
2010).
[0011] The above technique, however, is effective for crystalline
solar cells of which spectral responsivity P (.lamda.) is stable,
as in the case of single crystalline silicon solar cells, but an
error is generated if applied to solar cells having characteristics
where the spectral responsivity P (.lamda.) changes depending on
the irradiated light quantity, as in the case of thin film solar
cells (e.g. amorphous, fine crystal, compound, dye-sensitization,
organic).
[0012] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
H8-235903
[0013] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2004-134748
[0014] Non-Patent Document 1: J. Metzdorf, "Calibration of solar
cells: the differential spectral responsivity method", Applied
Optics, May 1, 1987, Vol. 26, No. 9, pp. 1701
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a light source evaluation device which allows
adjusting the light quantity of the illumination light source more
accurately, when evaluating a solar cell of which spectral
responsivity changes depending on the light quantity, and a solar
cell evaluation device employing the same.
[0016] With a light source evaluation device according to the
present invention and a solar cell evaluation device employing the
same, a dependency P(.lamda., Ib) for each wavelength .lamda. of a
short-circuit current Ib generated by white bias light of a
measurement target solar cell, which is pre-measured at each of a
plurality (i) of irradiance levels, is regarded as a spectral
responsivity Pi (.lamda.) at each irradiance level, and a value for
adjusting a light quantity of a light source that illuminates the
solar cell is computed using a spectral responsivity Ps (.lamda.),
which is computed using the spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.), a
pre-supplied spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) of reference sunlight,
and a pre-measured spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) of the light
source. Therefore the light source evaluation device having this
configuration and the solar cell evaluation device employing the
same can accurately adjust the light quantity of the illumination
light source when evaluating the solar cell of which spectral
responsivity changes depending on the light quantity.
[0017] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent upon reading the
following detailed description along with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a configuration of a
solar cell evaluation device according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting a concept of the spectral
responsivity of the solar cell evaluation device according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a graph depicting a dependency of the spectral
responsivity on the irradiance in a polycrystal silicon solar
cell.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows graphs depicting a relationship of the
short-circuit current of a solar cell, an irradiation light energy
E and a differential response thereof.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting a method for adjusting the
light quantity of the solar simulator according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a graph depicting a spectral irradiance of the
reference sunlight.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a graph depicting a spectral irradiance of the
solar simulator according to an example.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a graph depicting a difference of spectral
irradiance between the reference sunlight and the solar simulator
of the example.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0026] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, composing elements
denoted with a same reference symbol have a same configuration
where redundant is omitted. In this Description, a generic name is
denoted with a reference symbol without subscript, and an
individual configuration is denoted with a reference symbol with
subscript.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a configuration of a
solar cell evaluation device 1, including a light source evaluation
device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This
solar cell evaluation device 1 generates light simulating the
reference sunlight defined in the above-mentioned JIS (C8912), and
includes a solar simulator (illumination light source) 3 which
irradiates light onto a measurement target solar cell 2, a
current/voltage meter 4 that measures an electricity generation
characteristic (e.g. short-circuit current Isc) of the solar cell 2
by the irradiation light, and a light source evaluation device 10.
The light source evaluation device 10 includes first and second
storage units 11 and 12, which are formed of memory elements for
example, a computing unit 14 which is formed of a microprocessor
for example, and a display unit 15 which is formed of an LCD for
example. This solar cell evaluation device 1 can accurately
evaluate even a solar cell of which spectral responsivity changes
depending on the light quantity, and for the solar simulator
(illumination light source) 3, a conventionally available model can
be used.
[0028] In the solar cell evaluation device 1, when the solar
simulator 3 irradiates the illumination light, the light quantity
thereof is adjusted by the light source evaluation device 10. When
this adjustment is performed, the light source evaluation device 10
may be placed in the irradiation target area, instead of the
measurement target solar cell 2, and the light quantity thereof may
be measured, but in this embodiment, a mirror 7 is interposed on
the optical path from the solar simulator 3 to the solar cell 2, as
shown in FIG. 1, and the solar cell evaluation device 1 is
configured so that a part of the illumination light from the solar
simulator 3 is reflected by the mirror 7 (e.g. 99% of the light is
transmitted, and 1% thereof is reflected), and the reflected part
of the illumination light enters the light source evaluation device
10.
[0029] The data on the spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) of the
reference sunlight is pre-specified by IEC or the like, as
mentioned above, and supplied via recording media or a
communication network, and is stored in the first storage unit
11.
[0030] The spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.) of the measurement
target solar cell 2 is spectral responsivity P (.lamda.) which is
measured by a spectral responsivity measurement device 5 via
offline processing, with changing the irradiance in a plurality (i)
of levels. The measured spectral responsivity P (.lamda.) is stored
in the second storage unit 12, via a recording media or
communication network, as the spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.) of
the measurement target solar cell 2. JIS (C8915) defines two
methods to measure the spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.) of a
solar cell 2. The first measurement method is irradiating
monochromatic light (irradiating monochromatic light of which half
power width is 5 nm or less, and pitch is 25 nm), and sequentially
determining current from the solar cell 2 generated thereby. The
second measurement method is irradiating the monochromatic light
while irradiating white bias light at irradiance 1000 W/m.sup.2,
and sequentially determining the current from the solar cell 2. The
reference sunlight is irradiated under standard measurement
conditions, therefore the spectral responsivity in a state where
white bias light is applied is required. In the case of a solar
cell of which spectral responsivity does not depend on the
irradiance, such as a single crystal, the first measurement method
may be used, but in the case of a solar cell of which spectral
responsivity depends on the irradiance, the spectral responsivity
measured by the second measurement method is required. Therefore
the second measurement method is used in this embodiment.
[0031] In the light source evaluation device 10, the computing unit
14 determines the theoretical short-circuit current Iscref, as
mentioned later, based on the data in the first storage device 11,
which stores data on the spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) by the
reference sunlight shown in FIG. 6, and data in the second storage
device 12, which stores data on the spectral responsivity Pi
(.lamda.) of the solar cell 2 pre-measured at a plurality (i) of
irradiance levels, and displays the result on the display unit
15.
Iscref=.intg.Pi(.lamda.)*S(.lamda.)d.lamda. (1)
[0032] Here Pi (.lamda.) is the spectral responsivity of the solar
cell which is measured with the same irradiance as the reference
sunlight. This is denoted with 1 Sun hereinbelow.
[0033] Further, in the light source evaluation device 10, if
illumination light from the solar simulator 3 to the solar cell 2
enters, the computing unit 14 determines the short-circuit current
Isc using the following Expression 2, based on data on the spectral
irradiance L (.lamda.) measured by a spectro-radiometer 13, and
data on the spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.), and displays the
result on the display unit 15.
Isc=.intg.Pi(.lamda.)*L(.lamda.)d.lamda. (2)
[0034] The result of computing the short-circuit current Isc by the
computing unit 14 is displayed on the display unit 15, as mentioned
above, and the computing unit 14 also creates a light quantity
control signal CTL corresponding to the computing result, and
adjusts the light quantity of the solar simulator 3 so that
Isc=Iscref is established. The solar cell evaluation device 1 may
be configured in such a way that the computing unit 14 outputs the
computing result to such an external apparatus as a personal
computer via an external interface, and adjusts the light quantity
of the solar simulator 3 via the external apparatuses.
[0035] Now the method for determining the plurality (i) of spectral
responsivity values Pi (.lamda.) will be described in more detail.
This embodiment provides a method for adjusting the light quantity
of the solar simulator in measuring a solar cell having non-linear
characteristics, using the differential spectral responsivity
method (hereafter called DSR) advocated by J. Metzdorf in the
above-mentioned Non-Patent Document 1.
[0036] First the above-mentioned DSR method (method for
guaranteeing the spectral responsivity under 1000 W/m.sup.2
irradiance) will be outlined, while details are disclosed in the
above-mentioned Non-Patent Document 1. In this embodiment, an
integrated value of the spectral irradiance measured by the
spectro-radiometer 13 is used as the irradiation intensity quantity
used for the DSR method.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting a concept of the spectral
responsivity Pi (.lamda.) of the light source evaluation device 10.
As FIG. 2 shows, as the irradiation intensity of the light
irradiating on the solar cell increases and the short-circuit
current increases, the spectral responsivity of long wavelength
increases. This state is shown by reference symbols F0: F1, F2, F3,
. . . (F0 is a collective diagram of F1, F2, F3, . . . , that is,
an illustration of FIG. 3). If each diagram of F1, F2, F3, . . . is
plotted on a graph of which abscissa is irradiation intensity
(light energy) and ordinate is short-circuit current, as shown in
the diagram of the reference symbol Fa, it is shown that the
short-circuit current changes by .DELTA.I if the irradiation
intensity changes by .DELTA.E.
[0038] In the case of a solar cell having linear characteristics,
the inclination does not depend on the irradiation intensity and
has a constant value, hence the graph representing the relationship
between the irradiation intensity and the short-circuit current is
a straight line. In the case of a solar cell having non-linear
characteristics, on the other hand, the inclination differs
depending on the irradiation intensity, hence the graph
representing the relationship between the irradiation intensity and
the short-circuit current is a curved line, as the diagram with
reference symbol Fa shows. In this example, as the irradiation
light energy increases, the sensitivity on the longer wavelength
side increases and the value of .DELTA.I/.DELTA.E increases, and
the graph representing the relationship between the irradiation
intensity and the short-circuit current deviates from the straight
line.
[0039] Therefore in order to determine the relationship between the
spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) and the short-circuit current Isc,
the spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda., ib) at each short-circuit
current (ib) of various solar cells is determined, and the
relationship between P (.lamda., ib) and the irradiation intensity
A (.lamda.) when measuring the spectral responsivity is determined
as follows as the differential response. First the change
.DELTA.E(.lamda.) of the irradiated light energy is determined by
the following Expression 3, where k is a small numerical value.
.DELTA.E(.lamda.)=k.times.A(.lamda.) (3)
[0040] A change .DELTA.I (.lamda.) of the short-circuit current I
is determined by the following Expression 4.
.DELTA.I(.lamda.)=P(.lamda.,ib).times..DELTA.E(.lamda.) (4)
[0041] Therefore the change .DELTA.E (I) of the entire energy is
determined by the following Expression 5.
.DELTA.E(I)=.intg..DELTA.E(.lamda.)d.lamda.=.intg.k.times.A(.lamda.)d.la-
mda. (5)
[0042] Therefore the change .DELTA.I of the total short-circuit
current is determined by the following Expression 6.
.DELTA.I=.intg..DELTA.I(.lamda.)=.intg.P(.lamda.,ib).times..DELTA.E(.lam-
da.)d.lamda.=.intg.P(.lamda.,ib).times.k.times.A(.lamda.)d.lamda.
(6)
[0043] The relationship P (ib) of the subtle change (dI) of the
short-circuit current caused by the subtle change (dE) of the
irradiation intensity of light having a specific spectrum is given
by the following Expression 7.
I E = P ( ib ) = .intg. P ( .lamda. , ib ) k A ( .lamda. ) (
.lamda. ) .intg. k A ( .lamda. ) ( .lamda. ) = .intg. P ( .lamda. ,
ib ) A ( .lamda. ) ( .lamda. ) .intg. A ( .lamda. ) ( .lamda. ) ( 7
) ##EQU00001##
[0044] The differential response between the value of the
short-circuit current Ib and the value of the irradiation light
energy E is determined by Expression 7, as shown in FIG. 4A, for
example. The relationship shown in FIG. 4A changes depending on the
waveform A (.lamda.) of the spectral irradiance of the irradiated
light.
[0045] A reciprocal of the differential response obtained by
Expression 7 is integrated in a range from 0 to a specific
short-circuit current value I, as shown in Expression 8, whereby
the irradiation light energy E (I) can be determined.
E ( I ) = .intg. 0 I E ib ib = .intg. 0 I 1 P ( ib ) ib ( 8 )
##EQU00002##
[0046] The irradiated light energy E shown in Expression 8 is a
function of I, which becomes the upper limit of the integration
range. At the same time, the relationship between the irradiation
intensity E generated by the specific spectral irradiance waveform
and the solar cell short-circuit current I generated thereby
depends on the spectral irradiance A (.lamda.) as shown in FIG.
4B.
[0047] In the calculation of Expression 7, the relationship of FIG.
4B is determined using Expression 8, where the spectral irradiance
A (.lamda.) is a spectrum of AM 1.5, and the short-circuit current
Istc in the case where the irradiation light energy Estc is the
above-mentioned 1000 W/m.sup.2 is calculated using Expression 9.
Then the obtained value is the short-circuit current of the solar
cell 2 when being illuminated by the reference solar light.
E STC = .intg. 0 I STC 1 P ( ib ) .lamda. = 1000 W / m 2 ( 9 )
##EQU00003##
[0048] The irradiation intensity Ess when illuminated with the
actual solar simulator 3 is given by Expression 10.
E SS = .intg. 0 I STC 1 P ( ib ) .lamda. = 1000 W / m 2 ( 10 )
##EQU00004##
[0049] The computing unit 14 repeats measurement of the spectral
irradiance L (.lamda.) so as to implement the irradiation light
energy Ess of the solar simulator 3 determined like this, whereby
the solar simulator 3 can be adjusted to the appropriate
irradiation intensity.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting the state of adjusting the
light quantity of the solar simulator 3 mentioned above. First in
step S101 (processing S101), the spectral responsivity P (.lamda.,
ib) is measured at various spectral irradiance levels A (.lamda.),
then the processing in step S102 and the processing in step S105
are executed. In step S102, the differential response of the
short-circuit current value (ib) at each spectral responsivity
level P (.lamda., ib) with respect to the reference spectrum of AM
1.5 is determined by calculation using Expression 7. Then in step
S103, the differential response determined in step S102 is
integrated using Expression 8, and the relationship between the
short-circuit current I and the irradiation light energy E is
determined. Then in step S104, the short-circuit current Istc, in a
standard state where the irradiation light energy E is 1000
W/m.sup.2, is determined using Expression 9.
[0051] In step S105, on the other hand, the differential response
of the short-circuit current value (ib) with respect to the
spectrum of the spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) from the solar
simulator 3 at each spectral responsivity P (.lamda., ib) is
determined using Expression 7. Then in step S106, the differential
response determined in step S105 is integrated using Expression 8,
and the relationship between the short-circuit current I and the
irradiation light energy E is determined. Then in step S107, the
irradiation light energy Estc, when the short-circuit current Istc
becomes a value determined in step S104, is determined using
Expression 10.
[0052] In step S111, on the other hand, the spectral irradiance L
(.lamda.) of the solar simulator 3 is measured, and in step S112,
the irradiation light energy Ess irradiated by the solar simulator
3 is determined, and in step S108, it is determined whether the
irradiation light energy Estc, calculated in step S107, matches
with the actual (measured) irradiation light energy Ess of the
solar simulator 3 determined in step S112. If it is determined that
they match (YES), the light quantity adjustment operation ends, and
if they do not match (NO), processing advances to step S109 and the
irradiation light intensity of the solar simulator 3 is adjusted,
and after the spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) is measured again in
step S111, processing returns to step S105.
[0053] By matching the value of the short-circuit current Iscref
generated by the irradiation light energy Estc determined with the
reference sunlight with the value of the short-circuit current Isc
generated by the irradiation light energy Ess of the solar
simulator 3 like this, the solar simulator 3 can be accurately
adjusted so that short-circuit current, equivalent to that by
reference sunlight illumination, is generated even if the spectral
irradiance is different from the reference sunlight. The
irradiation light energy Ess of the solar simulator 3 may be
adjusted by the computing unit 14 displaying the irradiation light
energy Ess and Estc or short-circuit current Isc and Iscref on the
display unit 15, and the operator adjusting the light quantity so
that both values becomes the same, or by the computing unit 14
outputting a light quantity control signal CTL to indicate the
difference between the values to the solar simulator 3.
[0054] With this configuration, the above-mentioned reference cell
is not required for calibrating the solar simulator 3, and the
solar simulator 3 can easily be calibrated even if the type
(=spectral responsivity) of the solar cell 2 changes. The spectral
irradiance L (.lamda.) of the solar simulator 3 need not match the
spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) by the reference sunlight at an
unnecessarily high accuracy, and therefore the cost of the solar
simulator 3 can be reduced.
[0055] If numerical data on an arbitrary light source, such as a
D65 light source, is supplied to the spectral irradiance S
(.lamda.), the solar cell 2 can be adjusted to have the
short-circuit current in the case of using the light source. In the
above description, the spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) of the
reference sunlight is a value on the surface of the earth (AM 1.5),
but if this value is changed, simulation in any area, including the
outer space (AM 0), becomes possible.
[0056] As indicated herein above, the present detailed description
discloses techniques in various aspects. The major aspects among
them will be summarized hereinbelow.
[0057] A light source evaluation device according to an aspect
comprises: a spectro-radio meter that measures a spectral
irradiance L (.lamda.) of a light source for illuminating a
measurement target solar cell; a first storage unit that stores a
pre-measured spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) of reference sunlight;
a second storage unit that stores, as a spectral responsivity Pi
(.lamda.) at each of a plurality (i) of irradiation levels, a
dependency P (.lamda., Ib) for each wavelength of a short-circuit
current Ib generated by white bias light of the solar cell, which
is pre-measured at each irradiance level; and a computing unit that
computes a value for adjusting a light quantity of the light source
for illuminating the solar cell, using a spectral responsivity Ps
(.lamda.) of the solar cell corresponding to the irradiance level
of each wavelength of the light source determined by computation
using the spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.) at each of the
plurality (i) of irradiation levels of the solar cell, the spectral
irradiance S (.lamda.) of the reference sunlight, and the spectral
irradiance L (.lamda.) of the light source.
[0058] According to another aspect, in the light source evaluation
device, it is preferable that the computing unit selects a spectral
responsivity Ps (.lamda.) that corresponds to a difference between
the spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) of the reference sunlight and
the spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) of the light source, out of the
spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.) at each of the plurality (i) of
irradiance levels of the solar cell, and determines, as the
short-circuit current Isc for adjusting the solar simulator, an
effective value of an irradiance level at which the illumination
light from the light source actually works on photoelectric
conversion for the solar cell having the spectral responsivity Ps
(.lamda.).
[0059] The light source evaluation device having this configuration
is used for a solar cell evaluation device that includes a solar
simulator (illumination light source) for adjusting the light
quantity of the solar simulator. In the case of calibrating whether
the light quantity is a specified value (1000 W/m.sup.2), normally
a reference solar cell for which the short-circuit current (Isc) is
predetermined is used, and the solar simulator is adjusted so that
the short-circuit current (Isc) thereof becomes the predetermined
value. Whereas in the light source evaluation device having the
above configuration, the spectro-radiometer, the computing unit and
the spectral responsivity measurement device are used instead of
the reference solar cell.
[0060] To be more specific, while the spectral irradiance L
(.lamda.) of the solar simulator is measured by the
spectro-radiometer, the spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) of the
reference sunlight, which is predetermined in specifications, is
stored in the first storage unit, and the spectral responsivity Pi
(.lamda.) at each of the plurality (i) of irradiance levels of the
solar cell, which is pre-measured by the spectral responsivity
measurement device, is stored in the second storage unit. Then the
computing unit selects spectral responsivity Ps (.lamda.) that
corresponds to a difference between the spectral irradiance S
(.lamda.) of the reference sunlight and the spectral irradiance L
(.lamda.) of the light source, out of the spectral responsivity Pi
(.lamda.) at each of the plurality (i) of short-circuit current
levels (short-circuit current value Ib generated by the white bias
light) of the solar cell, and computes an effective value of an
irradiance level at which the illumination light from the light
source actually works on the photoelectric conversion for the solar
cell having the spectral responsivity Ps (.lamda.). The light
quantity of the solar simulator is adjusted by the operator, who
operates referring to the display, or by feedback control or the
like, so that the effective value becomes the specified light
quantity value.
[0061] Therefore the above-mentioned reference cell (reference
solar cell) is not required, and a state of irradiating a specified
quantity of light onto the solar cell can easily be reproduced even
if the type (=spectral responsivity) of the solar cell changes, and
time and cost for creating and calibrating the reference cell can
be reduced. In addition, by using the numeric data of an arbitrary
light such as the D65 light source for the spectral irradiance S
(.lamda.), the electric power generation, in the case of using the
solar cell with the arbitrary light source, can be measured. In the
same manner, by changing the spectral irradiance S (.lamda.) of the
reference sunlight, the electric power generation in the outer
space (AM0) or in an arbitrary area can be measured.
[0062] Furthermore, if this method is used, the electric power
generation at 200 W/m.sup.2 (=0.2 Sun) required according to IEC
61215 can be measured by changing S (.lamda.) to 0.2 Sun, and the
short-circuit current for adjusting the solar simulator,
considering the non-linearity of the solar cell, can be
provided.
[0063] The spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.) at each of the
plurality (i) of irradiance levels is determined by the dependency
P (.lamda., Ib) (=P (.lamda., .intg.L (.lamda.) dX), that is, the
total irradiation light quantity for each wavelength .lamda.) for
each wavelength .lamda. of the short-circuit current Ib of the
solar cell generated by the white bias light. The spectral
responsivity Pi (.lamda.) can be measured each time the irradiance
is changed in i levels, and the differential coefficient of the
short-circuit current ib and the irradiance is determined on the
basis of the spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) measured by the
spectro-radiometer, whereby the relationship of the irradiance and
the short-circuit current is determined. As a consequence, the
spectral irradiance to generate appropriate short-circuit current
in the solar cell can be more accurately determined based on the
actual spectral irradiance waveform of the solar simulator.
[0064] According to another aspect, in the above-mentioned light
source evaluation device, the computing unit performs feedback
control for the light quantity of the light source in response to
the computing result.
[0065] According to another aspect, in the above-mentioned light
source evaluation device, it is preferable that the computing unit
adjusts the light quantity of the light source using an absolute
spectral sensitivity method on the basis of the spectral
responsivity Pi (.lamda.) of the solar cell, which is pre-measured
at a plurality (i) of irradiance levels, and the spectral
irradiance L (.lamda.) of the light source, so that the irradiance
becomes 1000 W/m.sup.2 of the reference solar cell.
[0066] In this configuration, based on the spectral responsivity Pi
(.lamda.) of the solar cell pre-measured at a plurality (i) of
irradiance levels and the spectral irradiance L (.lamda.) of the
light source, the computing unit uses the spectral responsivity Pi
(.lamda.) until the irradiance reaches 1000 W/m.sup.2 as the
spectral responsivity Ps (.lamda.) at the spectral irradiance L
(.lamda.) of the light source according to an absolute spectral
sensitivity method.
[0067] Thereby the light quantity of the solar simulator can be
adjusted, as mentioned above, so that the effective value of the
irradiance level that actually works on the photoelectric
conversion for the solar cell, becomes a specified value, that is,
the intensity to generate the short-circuit current that is
generated at 1000 W/m.sup.2.
[0068] According to another aspect, in the above-mentioned light
source evaluation device, the computing unit displays the computing
result.
[0069] With this configuration, the operator can adjust the light
quantity of the solar simulator while checking the display, so that
the effective value of the irradiance level that actually works on
the photoelectric conversion for the solar cell becomes a specified
value, as mentioned above.
[0070] According to another aspect, in the above-mentioned light
source evaluation device, the computing unit outputs the computing
result to the outside.
[0071] With this configuration, if such an external control device
as a personal computer is connected to an interface for outputting
the computing result to the outside, for example, this control
device can adjust the light quantity of the solar simulator
(illumination light source) so that the effective value of the
irradiance level, which actually works on the photoelectric
conversion for the solar cell, becomes a specified value, as
mentioned above.
[0072] A solar cell evaluation device according to another aspect
comprises: one of the above-mentioned light source evaluation
devices; a solar simulator used as the light source that generates
light simulating the reference sunlight and irradiates the light
onto the measurement target solar cell; and a current/voltage meter
that measures an electricity generation characteristic of the solar
cell by the irradiation light from the solar simulator.
[0073] With this configuration, the electric power generation
characteristic with the irradiation light of the reference sunlight
can be accurately determined considering the non-linearity of the
spectral responsivity Pi (.lamda.) with respect to the incident
light quantity of the solar cell, as mentioned above.
[0074] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2010-180396, filed on Aug. 11, 2010, and the content thereof is
included in the present application.
[0075] Although the present invention has been described
appropriately and sufficiently using the embodiments with reference
to the drawings, it should be recognized that modifications and/or
improvements of the embodiments can easily be made by those skilled
in the art. Therefore unless departing from the scope of the rights
stated in the Claims, such modifications or improvements are
understood to be within the scope of the Claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0076] According to the present invention, the light source
evaluation device and the solar cell evaluation device can be
provided.
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